The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-21
Odd Things In China.

gentleman is to have a nice coffin and
fine funeral.
They feed their friends sumptuous
ly when dead, but let them take care
of themselves the best they could
while alive,
Old women instead of the young
are the idle bells of society.
The highest recommendation a
man can have is the fact Of his hav-
ing wife.
A bachelor is likened to a counter
felt coin he is looked upon with sus-
picion even by members of his own
household.
Love-making is only done three
days after marriage. 1t is not only
considered the safest way to get
ahead of rival, but the surest way
to get wife without losing much
time.
A previous quaintanceship be.
tween the male and female prevents
them from marriage. For this rea-
son man seldom weds a girl of his
own town. They are likewise pre-
vented from marrying kins or name
sakes. Joneses are not allow ed to
marry Joneses, nor Smiths to marry
Smiths.
A girl is neYerconsidered anything
else in her own fathers house than
an honored guest, She is neither re-
sponsible for the family's debts nor
enjoys share in its fortunes, as in
the case of sons.
Daughters depend upon their hus-
bands for fame and fortune, while
sons depend upon the parents and
upon themselves.
A man could borrow money on the
strength of his having a son, but no
one would advance him a cent if he
had dozen of daughters. The for
mer is responsible for the debts of his
father for three generations. The lat
ter is only responsible for the debts
of her own husband.
When a Chinaman meets another
he shakes and squeezes mis- own
hands and covers his head. IF great
friends had not seen each other for a
long time, after the mutual hand.
shaking they would rub shoulders
until they become tired. Instead of
asking each others health they would
say: "Have you eaten your rice I?
where are you going /? what is your
business when you get there ? how
old are you? how much did you pay
for your shoes ?'
Men wear long petticoats and car
ry fans. while the women wear short
jackets and carry canes.
Boats are drawn by horses, car
riages, moved by sails.
Old men play ball and fly kites,
while children fold their arms and
look on.
Schoolmasters have more power
over young than parents. If within
three years. schooling the child is
not morally as we'll as intellectually
reformed he is sent into another
school.
Parents and spectators instead of
the children are held responsible for
crimes committed by the latter.
ut is better to be ignorant and
know how to live than to be learned
and not know how to live. The prin.
cipal object of a school is to learn
how to live in tranquility and hap
piness and nothing more" So say
all Chinese scholars.
1t is much lesser crime to steal
your neighbours OK than to steal his
dog. The former is simply personal
property, while the latter takes the
place of a man-Watchman.
If a Chinaman desires the death of
all enemy he goes and hangs himself
upon his neighbours door. It is a
sure case to kill not only that partic-
ular enemy, but members of his en-
tire family will be in jeopardy oflos-
ing their lives.
When a Chinaman desires a visitor
to dine with him he does not ask him
edo so. but when he does not want
him to stay he puts the question,
"Oh please stay and dine with me. "
The visitor will then know that ne is
not wanted.
A rich mans servant gets no SAL
ary, yet many are the applicants !;
while big salaries are paid to the
servants of the common people but
few make application. The perquis-
ties of the former often more than
triple the salaries of the latter, are
the sole reasons of these differences.
When Chinaman expects a pres
ent and it does not come he sends one
Of lesser value.
To encourage honesty and SINGER
ity, confidential clerks and statesmen
In al rnt,ahna &c ;,I ~